Holiday Angling with My Brother Don

Big brother Don came down from Atlanta and stayed a few days with me last week. While he was here we got to do some Sheepshead fishin'. Out on Atsena Otie off the long pier there and at the end of it. The Sheepshead are really thick out there now. I'd heard of some great catches of Sheepshead for a month , but haven't been able to get out there.

Sheepshead fishing is different in that you don't buy shrimp for bait and you don't use bobbers, and you don't cast out. You can use fiddler crabs you chase down at low tide and collect and you can use oysters you scrape off pilings or bars and collect and shuck them open and put them on your hook. Sheepshead sure do love oysters. There is no shortage of oysters in the Cedar Keys region.

We rigged up 2 stout rods with 30 lb. leaders and fished right down the side of the old barnacle encrusted pilings .Just drop your bait down alongside the piling until it hits the bottom and then reel it up about 6 inches or so. Sheepshead are either on the hook or off. Rarely a bite like a Redfish or a Trout or some other nibbler. Sometimes you'll see your line moving sideways and then you'll lift you rod slightly and then 'BAM'. They are like a wigglin' cinder block. Heavy fighting fish. Their jaws are real strong so you might see a bent hook or two.

We were able to get out there on the pontoon boat from the 'Lady Pirate Fishing' group. Jackie and Paula, (the owners of the business) loaned me their fishing boat so I could take Don out to catch a few Sheepshead. They are real good folks and I appreciate their kindness. You know,,,for $40 they'll take you fishing around these keys and provide the rods and the bait and the license too. A 4 hour trip. A lot of times it stretches out a little longer. Give 'em a call @ 352-543-0080. There is a lot of fresh fish around these keys, ya'll get out and catch some. My cat and I are havin' a Christmas Sheepshead.

E-mail me shanadan50@hotmail.com